When life gets in the way of your Illinois work injury
Recently a caller with an uncontested Illinois workers' compensation claim was worried that her TTD benefits would get cut off because she could not participate in physical therapy as was recommended by her doctor. Her reason for not participating was quite a good one; she has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.
Typically your failure to cooperate with reasonable medical treatment will result in your benefits being suspended or terminated. You can't just refuse to do it or go on vacation for a month. But if you have something that is beyond your control come up like cancer then there is case law that says your benefits should continue.
In general your employer "takes you as they find you." That means that if you are 350 pounds and your doctor says your weight is preventing you from recovering from a back injury that's not going to hurt your case. If you have occasional seizures and have one when working on a scaffold causing you to crash to the ground, the seizure problem doesn't bar you from benefits (because your job had you working in a risky position).
And if you get cancer during a work injury that prevents a return to health for your work injury too, the law is on your side and will protect you as you deal with a much more serious issue.
We are workers' compensation attorneys that help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys. Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.
